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Knife thug is caged

Paul Britton
9/10/2008

A KNIFE-wielding thug ordered off a bus by a brave head teacher has been locked up for 12 months.

Allison Crompton, 47, said she was 'just doing what anyone else would do' after the 17-year old yob threatened pupils with a knife outside Middleton Technology School, near Rochdale.

Now the young thug can be named for the first time as Adam Paul Taylor - under-18s are granted an automatic right to anonymity but magistrates at Rochdale Youth Court lifted the restrictions following an application by our sister paper the M.E.N.

The court heard Taylor had breached Asbo terms 33 times. He was told that only a custodial sentence would suffice.

And in a stark warning to teenagers carrying knifes, chairman of the bench Brian Norbury warned: "People who brandish a knife in a public place should expect custody."

The court heard police were called after reports a youth had been making threats with a knife as hundreds of pupils were leaving school for the day.

Mrs Crompton said last week that she saw him 'slashing' a large knife at them and said: "I had to stand up and do something to protect the children."

Andrew Hey, prosecuting, said Taylor was chased by a group of youths from the school along Oldham Road after he was kicked by one of them. Mrs Crompton told how she also gave chase.

The court heard Taylor then jumped on a number 58 bus, followed by the group.

Mrs Crompton added: "I got on and shouted in my best head teacher voice: You get off this bus now!"

Taylor, of Grimshaw Lane, Middleton, then fled from the bus and dropped the knife in a garden. He was arrested nearby after a witness found the knife.

Taylor pleaded guilty to affray, possession of an offensive weapon and breaching an ASBO. He was given a 12-month detention and training order.

Rebecca Clarke, defending, said Taylor denied he had the knife before he found it after he was chased from the bus.

She said: "He does accept he behaved in a violent and threatening manner but only to fend these youngsters off.

"It was a very foolish decision for him to pick up the knife but it was on the basis that he was being chased."